Forged in Honor (1995) (56 page)

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4 P. M., U. S. Embassy, Rangoon.

"How bad was he when they took him?"

"He'll live," McCoy said into the secure phone. "He caught two. One went in the back of his shoulder and exited above his collarbone, nice and clean. The second one looked bad, but it was just a graze to his head. He's got a new part in his hair-he was lucky."

"You think he'll talk?"

"We have Stephen's son, Mr. Director. He won't be talking, at least not until we give him back. We've got the cover story in place. You should have enough time to come up with a plausible denial if something leaks. I think it's going to be okay. Hawkins is no dummy-he'll want to get on with his life and not have to worry about us-and Colonel Banta is sharp, so he'll play it our way. How 'bout your end?"

"When Hawkins stood up at the conference, all anybody saw on television was his back. The only problem will be the photos and TV tape from your end."

"My crew and I took care of all the TV cameras during the mortar attack, so the tapes are okay. As far as the photos go, we did our best. I had the light crew beam him as soon as he stood. The pictures should be for shit, but no guarantees."

The director said, "Okay, we'll be monitoring the wire services and may have to pull strings if it's a problem. How about the bottom line? Does it look good for us?"

"Iffy, boss. The military is definitely out, but it's going down like we thought on the political side. No party or group has enough pull to take the lead, so it's gonna be a mess for a while. Swei and his crew have been dead for less than seven hours and the political party chiefs are already arguing over parking places. Nobody trusts anybody enough to form a coalition. It's gonna take a long time and a couple of changes of leadership before it smooths out. That's my best guess-the embassy and the State boys are burning both ends trying to make it work for us. The good news is that all the parties agree the country will remain open. That'll make the special interests happy."

"That is good news. Buck, what happened to us there can never happen again. Make sure. Let me know if you need more people. Just get it done, and stay within budget."

"Boss, we're workin' on it already. We've made plenty of contacts and should have a preliminary network established within days. The environment is right. I don't see a problem."

"Okay, Buck, I'm counting on you. Just one more thing.

How did it go? Did the old Sawbaw do it right?"

"Boss, it was a good op. The old man and Stephen paid, but they had it wired right-they cleaned house with no spills. And boss? Our boy was right in the middle of it, and it was very heavy action. I wanna go on record on that. He did it right, and for all the right reasons."

"It figures. I'll get damage control to wrap this up. I'll cover him as long as he's quiet. Buck, this goes next door now. I'm out of it now, but I won't forget. Thanks."

"Just doin' my job. Out here, boss." McCoy hung up and walked into the next room, where Fletcher sat waiting.

"Well?" McCoy asked.

"They took him up north after a doctor stitched up his head wound and cleaned out his shoulder. I understand he was too weak to walk but was conscious."

"You find out what Banta meant by unfinished business?"

Fletcher nodded but remained silent for a moment before looking into McCoy's eyes. "Hawkins has to preside over the funerals of the two Sawbaws. According to the Shan doctor I talked to, our boy is considered family and must be there.

The burial is going to take place somewhere up in the mountains. It also seems Hawkins is going to be made a Sawbaw. And something about being given a title, 'the Protector.' "

McCoy's jaw tightened. "Hawkins can't be a Sawbaw.

He's not Shan."

Fletcher shrugged. "They consider him one of their own.

One more thing. While I was up there I was made by Banta's people. I thought it was going to be trouble, but Banta sent word to let me go and to have me pass a message on to you.

We're not to tell the kid about his father and the old man.

Sawbaw Hawkins, the Protector, will do it. What do you make of it? Will he stay on and lead those people?"

McCoy shook his head slowly as he walked to the window. "I don't know. For our sake let's hope not-he knows us too well."

"Buck, what did the Shan gain from all this? I don't see it.

McCoy gazed out the window reflectively and spoke as if in church. "Hope. They fought to try and hold on to their way of life. Time is running out for them, and they know it."

"You think they got it? Hope, I mean."

"Yeah. At least for a while. Hope for a better future is all any of us can ask for. For them it was worth dying for."

"Hey, Buck, it beats dying for money and power. Maybe it was worth it."

McCoy lowered his head. "Maybe it was."

Chapter 28.

27 June, Bangkok, Thailand.

The CIA chief of station stood at the gate watching the arriving passengers from Rangoon walk toward the airport terminal.

"That's him," he said, pointing Joshua out to his case officer.

The two men strode to meet the approaching passenger.

The younger agent was about to speak when a wiry old man wearing a blue turban and a mean stare cut him off. His left arm was in a sling, but his other hand was reaching inside his dark tunic.

"It's all right, Lante," Josh said, patting the old Horseman's back.

The case officer eyed the old man nervously. "McCoy didn't say anything about you bringing a bodyguard, Hawkins. Tell him to keep his hand away from whatever he's carrying."

Josh kept walking.

The chief offered his hand and asked, "How's the head?"

"Where's Jacob?" Josh snapped.

"He's doing fine. I followed the instructions, so he doesn't know. And did you keep your end of the bargain?"

"It's over. I have nothing to say to anyone," Josh said coldly.

The chief saw in his eyes that he meant it. Relaxing his professional stare, he motioned to an approaching car. "The wife and I are going to miss Jacob. He's a good kid."

The car stopped and the case officer opened the door.

Jacob got out with an expectant smile. The smile vanished at the sight of Josh's bandages and the sling the Horseman was wearing. His eyes swept desperately past the two men toward the plane. "Where is Papa?" he asked, his voice cracking.

Kaska got out the other door. Seeing only Josh and the Horseman, she knew and turned away as Josh kneeled to take Jacob's hand. Without speaking, he placed Stephen's silver bracelet on the boy's wrist.

Jacob shook as tears began flowing down his cheeks. "He ... he promised me."

Josh looked into the boy's eyes. "He and your grandfather are together in the mountains. They are riding with the other Horsemen and all their ancestors. The gods are ..." Trembling, Joshua closed his tearing eyes, unable to finish the ritual. Seeing Jacob's anguish just added more pain to his own.

For days the grief had been building within him like a festering wound--always there, throbbing, and trying to tear him apart. He wasn't ready to say the traditional words and release them. He wanted desperately to keep them with him.

Horseman Lante reached out and brought Jacob to his side.

Leaning over, the old warrior tilted his head and said in a soft whisper, "Listen. Do you hear it, little Sao? It is the sound of the ponies' hoof beats in the distant mountains. I hear the Sawbaws bellowing proudly as they return to the camp. The ancestors are rejoicing, for they have been waiting for them.

What stories the Sawbaws will tell at their campfires! While we still feel the pain of their going, they are riding with the wind filled with happiness. Throughout our land everyone speaks of them and what they did together for our people.

Years from now hunters will sit by their campfires and speak of the bravery of the Kangs. They are not gone, little Sao; they are in all of us. The story of the victory over the pye dogs will be told by fathers to their sons as long as the Shan live. The gods are truly fortunate to have them."

Jacob sniffed back his tears as he looked up at the old man. "My mother is in their camp, isn't she?"

The old man smiled. "Close your eyes, little Sao. Do you not see her smiling as the riders approach? She has been waiting for your father to join her. She is going to tell him of you and how joyful you were to hear the news. The news that Sawbaw Stephen Kang fought beside his father. `Ayeee,' they bellowed, as together they charged the pye dogs.

`Ayeee, ayeee,' they cried out as the great Sawbaw's sword flashed, your father by his side shooting and fighting the filthy pye dogs. `Ayeee, ayeee.' "

"Ayeee," Jacob whispered, seeing the battle.

Reaching out, Jacob took Josh's hand: "Can you hear them too, Uncle Joshua?"

Josh closed his tear-filled eyes and drew strength from the boy's touch as images flashed through his mind. A tingling sensation ran up his back and across his shoulders, and then he heard the faintest of voices in the wind. A single voice became louder and the image suddenly focused. They were standing together in a valley. Stephen was smiling and XII'

Kang stood with his hands on his hips. "By the gods, this is a blessed day, Joshua Hawkins! In every village our people speak of us! We will live forever! Forever, Joshua Hawkins!

Forever!"

Josh pulled Jacob to his breast and hugged him. "I hear them, little Sao. The gods are very honored with your father and grandfather's presence."

Jacob rolled his small shoulders back and lifted his eyes to the heavens. "Yes, they are very pleased."

Midnight, 29 June, National Airport, Washington, D. C.

The white Learjet rolled to a stop, and two cars drove out onto the ramp. The copilot opened the side door and extended the stairs. Josh took a step and turned around to take the other passenger's hand. "Welcome to the United States, Jacob. Look over there. That's the Washington Monument."

Jacob smiled. "Super."

" 'Bout damn time you got back."

Josh was blinded by the car headlights and could not see the speaker, but he knew the voice. Lifting his hand to block the glare, he stepped forward and opened his arms.

Kelly embraced him, then pushed him back to look him over. "Nice haircut, buddy. I won't ask who did your hair, but it looks like they got a little too close. Well, looky here.

You must be Jacob. I'm Terry Kelly."

Jacob didn't understand what Kelly had said, but he knew what to do when the stranger offered to shake hands. "Is a pleasure," he said.

Behind Kelly, a man cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Colonel Hawkins, I'm Deputy Director Thorn. The director regrets not being able to-"

Josh brushed past the man and opened the car door.

"Shamrock, get us home."

"Colonel Hawkins, we need to come to an understanding right now," the deputy snapped at Josh's back.

Josh faced him with a glare. "Tell Jennings to back off.

I'm not going to talk to anyone. Your people have debriefed me and warned me enough. It's over. I just Want to go home."

"Look, Hawkins. We went to a lot of trouble to get the boy's paperwork taken care of, and we let the detective meet you as per your request. You can give me at least a minute to explain how things are."

Josh's glare softened and he walked with Thorn to the back of the car so Kelly couldn't hear their conversation.

"I'm listening," said Josh.

"The press has been on a worldwide manhunt to find out who Jeff Ness was and who he worked for. They bought that he was killed in the headquarters by Swei's men because there were 'witnesses' to the murder. His body was subsequently burned beyond recognition in the fire that destroyed the ministry building. In his hotel room in Rangoon, the police found a Canadian passport saying he was Albert Werner, an investigative reporter from Vancouver. When they checked, the press found Werner fit Ness's description but that he had been missing for five years. The bottom line is, we have the press going nuts tracking down cold leads. A few have tried to link Ness and Werner to us, but without proof it's not getting any print. We want you to keep a low profile for a month or so. That means no working. Just take it easy. We figure it will blow over, but we'll be keeping an eye on you for a while. Am I making myself clear?"

"Perfectly clear," Josh said, and strode back to Kelly and slid into the backseat of the car with Jacob.

Thorn shut the door and leaned forward. Through the open window he said, "Hawkins, we'll be watching you."

Josh patted the driver's shoulder. "The Waterfront."

Kelly looked over his shoulder as the car pulled away.

`Them spooks really know how to make a guy feel welcome, don't they? Besides the stitches in your head, how you doin'?"

Josh took Jacob's hand in his. "I'm doing better now.

Jacob and I have a lot of things planned. How's Stef?"

Kelly rolled his eyes. "I'm tellin' ya, Hawk, that girl is a pain. When you called and said you were coming in, I almost cried in relief--not 'cause of you, but 'cause of me. Stef has been drivin' me up the wall. She's been stayin' on your boat with Meg since the redhead got outta the hospital. I think they sit around thinkin' up shit just to pester me."